Wednesday, May 8, 2024
York selected as the College of Education and Human Sciences’ Orange Robe recipient Jessica Pearce OSU News
Payton Little
Finals week often marks one of the first weeks of beautiful spring weather.
Why finals week is the best week of the school year week Bella Casey News and Lifestyle Assistant Editor
Although I am busy studying for final exams, I find more gaps in my schedule than usual. I don’t have to follow my regular class schedule, and I do not have any club meetings. I am not as limited to campus, so I can study anywhere. I venture out of the newsroom and part ways with the desk in my apartment to celebrate the rare occasion. I hunker As some dread the chaos of down in a coffee shop instead, finals week, I cannot wait for it where I am surrounded by tables to begin. of other students cramming for The final week of the sefinals. Hours of studying seem to mester is the busiest week of the pass quicker this way. year for some students. For me, As finals week rolls it’s the calmest. around, so does spring. I get
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to break out my books and my favorite pair of jean shorts. Every walk to campus feels like a fashion show as I rediscover the summer wardrobe I packed away in October. The freezing walks to campus are over. Finals week always includes free food. Someone is usually handing out drinks or snacks somewhere on campus, and Late Night Cafe, an event the Student Union Activities Board hosts, is a hit among many. Apartment complexes near campus, such as Prime Place, offer free breakfast during finals week. I might be stressed, but I won’t be hungry. See Finals on 5
OSU Dean’s Dialogue brings ag stewardship to the forefront Ainsley Treesh OSU News Oklahoma State University Agriculture is committed to elevating discussions about agriculture and bringing agricultural issues to the forefront through the Dean’s Dialogue series. Jayson Lusk, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture, sat down with Steven Rhines, president and chief executive officer of Noble Research Institute, on April 29 and discussed Noble’s goals and regenerative agricultural efforts. Noble Research Institute is
an independent nonprofit agricul- went a strategic shift within its tural research organization that organization to fulfill Noble’s aims to improve land stewardoriginal vision. ship through soil health and “We moved away from producer profitability. basic plant science,” Rhines said. “Our purpose is to save “We still have a research comU.S. grazing lands, and we do ponent, but it’s incredibly apthat by promoting land stewplied. It works with farmers and ardship through management, ranchers and their challenges. building soil health, and keepAll our research projects involve ing farmers and ranchers on the ranchers or producers, which I’m land,” Rhines said. proud of.” Founded in 1945 by Lloyd Noble’s research is more Noble, the institute was created cause-and-effect focused, he to help revitalize agricultural said. Based on monitoring and land after the Dust Bowl. Noble measurement of the land, the is the largest nonprofit agriculintent is to provide farmers and tural research organization in the ranchers with tools to make proUnited States. ductive and profitable decisions During the past few years, based on the land and its health. Noble Research Institute underSee Dialogue on 7
Cara York’s Oklahoma State University story is one of perseverance, growth and success. York has the prestigious distinction of serving as the Orange Robe graduate for the College of Education and Human Sciences during the university’s spring commencement May 11. Given to a senior in each college who has demonstrated dedication to their academics and community, the Orange Robe recipient carries the gonfalon and leads the college processional. York, a fashion merchandising major, said she was thrilled to receive the distinction not only because of the prestige it holds but also because of what it means to uphold the values of CEHS over her four years at OSU. “I love that the College of Education and Human Sciences’ (tagline) is ‘People, Passion, Purpose,’” York said. “I just love people. I think my love for others is why I wanted to pursue all these opportunities that I’ve had.” As a third-generation OSU student, York said it was almost a foregone conclusion that she belonged in Stillwater. “I never even took a tour,” York said. “I have bled orange since the day I came out of the womb. I grew up coming to Stillwater for sporting events; It was always OSU or nothing.” Yet, over her first few months at OSU, things did not go as planned. York left a sorority she had dreamed of joining, struggled with the isolation of COVID-19 restrictions and broke up with her long-time boyfriend. Halfway through her freshman year, she did not think she would return to Oklahoma State University and talked with her advisor about transferring closer to home. “I just didn’t feel home,” York said. “I wasn’t finding my place. No matter what I did or how I tried to get involved, it just wasn’t for me; nothing clicked.” Despite her struggles in the first year, York said her parents encouraged her to remain at OSU. She also found motivation from her professors and teaching assistants, who shared their passion for fashion, merchandising and marketing and inspired her to stay in the degree she wanted to pursue since high school. “I thought about going into accounting or finance because I love num-
bers, I love Excel and I love business,” York said. “But I didn’t want to just sit behind a desk all day. So when I found (fashion merchandising) I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, like this is perfect for me.’” York said her professors and people that she met as COVID-19 restrictions eased made her want to stay in Stillwater and continue pursuing her dreams. For the past three years, York has worked at a formal dress boutique near her hometown. “Being a retail associate is like the basics of the fashion industry,” York said. “I get to see the ins and outs of it all, and that’s really fun because we have classes about what I do as part of our degree. I’ll be at the store doing something for my boss, and then it connects to what I do in class.” York said the small size of the Department of Design and Merchandising has enabled her to make meaningful connections with her peers and the professors, many of whom have turned into mentors over her time at OSU. York said Dr. Aditya Jayadas is one of the most influential figures in her academic career. Jayadas said York has become one of his favorite students for her selflessness, curiosity and natural leadership. “In the college, we talk about passion and purpose, and she embodies that,” Jayadas said. “The combination of empathy and humility— she just embodies the principles of being a good student, a good human being, a good citizen. It’s rare to see all of these attributes in one student. She is not expecting a pat on the back— she’s just doing it because she wants to do it.” York’s curiosity and desire to learn from others is why Jayadas encouraged her to take one of the biggest, but most rewarding, risks of her academic career and spend a semester abroad in Florence, Italy. York said she originally planned on graduating a semester early, but when she had a change of heart to wait until the spring semester, she went to Jayadas to discuss her options. Jayadas suggested studying abroad, and York realized she could accomplish a lifelong dream. “I had such a short span of time to get everything turned in and apply to all these things,” York said. “But it just worked out perfectly that I got to do it right in time. And that was by no accident. I know it was meant to be that I went abroad.” See Robe on 8